Welcome to 2021 RHHS Marching Band: Very Important Info!
Hello to the members of the 2021 RIVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND!!!! I have some great information to share with you, and some very important tasks for you to complete, so please read this entire letter carefully. I’ll start with some information….
Many of you have seen Drum Corps International videos, like the ones I showed in class during last year’s virtual instruction. I invite you to join me for the “2021 DCI Celebration Countdown” at the Snowden Square movie theater on July 15th and 8:00 PM. Here is the trailer:
And here is where you purchase tickets:
Let’s see how many River Hill kids we can fit in this theater! I hope to see you there - it’s going to be awesome!
I know that my woodwind players are anxious to sign out instruments. They are currently at the repair shop getting their annual maintenance, and I promise to let you know as soon as they are available.
And now….I have a number of tasks for you, and the first set needs to be completed by this next Sunday, July 11th. I will need to hear from EVERY FAMILY (via the Google Form linked below) in the Band Program by the 11th so I can begin writing Marching Band drill on the 12th. The Google Form can be filled out by a parent if the student is unavailable this week.
RHHS Band tasks - set 1, to be completed by 7/11/21. See below for instructions.
1. Print out your Marching Band music.
2. Make a plan to get your music learned and memorized.
3. Review the Marching Band rehearsal/performance schedule.
4. Update Charms.
5. Submit your measurements for uniform sizing.
6. Complete the Marching Band Google Form.
1. Print out your Marching Band music! Here’s how:
a. Access the RHHS Marching Band Google Drive here -> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15b5MYqQJ-kosufgMcTKDZXcC2Y8tJef-?usp=sharing
b. Open the Marching Band spreadsheet, and verify the accuracy of your name, class, grade, “indoor” instrument, and marching instrument. Contact me via email if anything is incorrect.
c. Make note of your part assignment for each piece, as well as any additional instructions such as “play top notes.” Do not panic if you see some strange part assignments. For example, keyboard players will be reading some flute parts; trombone and euphonium parts are sometimes interchangeable; most of you will be printing two parts for the Alma Mater. “(None)” means that you do not have to print anything for that particular piece. If you suspect that I have made an error in any of your assignments, go ahead and write me a note - there are a lot of part to assign and I’d rather verify now than find out during Band Camp that I’ve made a mistake.
d. Go back into the Google Drive and open the .pdf file for each title. Print only the parts that you need. Eventually these parts will go into plastic page protectors and a 1/2-inch (no larger please) 3-ring binder. More on that in a couple of weeks…..
e. Note that there is an .mp3 recording for every piece that you have to learn (except “Generic Fanfare”). You’ll be accessing these frequently, so you might want to just download them.
2. Make a plan to get your music learned and memorized. Here is our repertoire list:
warm-up: The Hymn of Acxiom
pregame: The Star-Spangled Banner & Go Hawks Go
halftime: Canzon, I Just Want to Celebrate, & Chorale and Shaker Dance
stands tunes: Funkytown, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Laugh-In, F.B.G., & Generic Fanfare
postgame: RHHS Alma Mater
All of your music must be learned by the first day of Band Camp - August 16th. You will need to memorize all warm-up, pregame, and halftime music (6 pieces) by August 23rd. I know that this can seem a bit overwhelming, but please do not panic - YOU CAN DO THIS. Just be sure to do these five things:
*Practice at least a little bit every day, and increase your practice time as you get in shape.
*Keep steady time with foot-tapping (this will help you with the marching later).
*Mark every challenging spot with a pencil. There should be tons of markings by the time we get together in August.
*Bring your music to your private lessons.
*Practice while listening to the recordings.
Those of you who know me know that this last piece of advice goes against everything I believe about teaching music, BUT this is a bit of a race against the clock, as our first performance is on September 3rd. Having your music learned by the first day of Band Camp and memorized by the beginning of week 2 are absolute necessities, and practicing with the recording is the best way to get the job done FAST. I would also suggest making a schedule for yourself….maybe something like this:
*July 4-11: Learn the music at a slow tempo and mark all challenging sections in whatever way is helpful for you.
*July 11-18: Learn the music at the printed tempos, continuing to mark every mistake and challenging section.
*July 18-25: Continue to practice everything, and memorize the warm-up piece.
*July 25-August 1: Continue to practice everything, and memorize the pregame music.
*August 1-15: Continue to practice everything and memorize the halftime music.
Here are some special notes for marching percussionists (snares, toms, cymbals, and bass drums):
*Sometimes stickings are marked in the music. When they are not, strive to play everything with “right hand lead.” In other words, the numbers and the “ands” are rights, and the “e”s and “a”s are lefts. Obviously there are some instances when right hand lead doesn’t work, and I leave it to you to work out the most logical sticking.
*Bass drummers - I strongly recommend that you learn your parts “in unison” first. This means playing EVERYONE’S parts for the first week or so, and then start working on your specific part. I am also asking you to highlight every note that you will play in the end. So, for example, if you are the #1 player and are reading the top notes only, highlight every note in the part that contains the top note. The #2 part is the second one from the top, and it goes down from there. A sample of highlighted bass drum music can be found in the Google Drive with everything else.
*I hope to have music for our street cadence soon.
Finally, here is one note for piccolo players: Feel free to take ANYTHING down an octave if it sounds better. : )
Always feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any notes, rhythms, or markings in your music - I will be happy to help you.
3. Review the Marching Band rehearsal/performance schedule. This is the schedule that I referred to in my first email back in April. These rehearsals and performances are required for every member of the Marching Band. Thank you for not asking to be excused for driver’s education, tutoring, work, etc. Be sure to contact me directly (before filling out the Google Form) about any pre-existing family conflicts with any of these activities (we will take care of the rest of the year’s calendar shortly). Remember that full attendance is truly necessary, not only for musical reasons, but also for safety reasons, as unfamiliarity with the drill (the visual component of our show) can result in dangerous collisions. Please note that stationary members, which at this point are only the “pit” (keyboard) percussionists, do not need to attend the full evening’s rehearsal until August 25th.
8/16 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/17 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/18 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/19 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/20 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
TBD Dr. Martirano kickoff performance TBD (traditionally in the morning)
8/23 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/24 Camp 4:00-9:00 (stationary members from 4:00 - 5:45 only)
8/25 Camp 4:00-9:00 (everyone)
8/26 Camp 4:00-9:00 (everyone)
8/27 Camp 4:00-8:30 (everyone) and….
Back-To-Band meeting for all Band Parents 7:00 in the Band Room
9/3 Rehearsal/Dinner/Football Game begins right after school
9/24 Rehearsal/Dinner/Football Game begins right after school
10/8 Rehearsal/Dinner/Football Game begins right after school
10/22 Rehearsal/Dinner/Football Game begins right after school
10/29 Rehearsal/Dinner/Football Game begins right after school
Students will bring dinner to Camp each day and eat at 5:45. For parents, please note the “Back to Band” meeting on August 27th at 7:00 in the Band Room. We will discuss the Marching Band season, formal concert wear, earning money toward Band expenses (including Spring Trip), the calendar for the year, etc., Band Booster officers will be available to answer any questions that you may have, and when we’re done we will go out and cheer on the kids at their final run-through of Band Camp!
4. Update Charms. Charms is the online database management system that is used by the River Hill High School Band program. Informational emails can be sent to adults or students or both, and it is very important that there is a valid email address and phone number for the student, and also for at least one parent or guardian. Additional parents or guardians may be added if they also wish to receive band information. Please follow the instructions below to verify and update your information in the Charms system. This is the first time we have used the option for students and parents to log in and update their information directly. If you have any problems or issues, please contact Kathie Blackman at kkblackman@comcast.net.
1. Go to www.CharmsOffice.com.
2. Click on the blue “Login” button in the top right corner.
3. Click on the “Parents/Students/Members” button on the top right.
4. Enter “RHHSMusic” where it asks for the School Code.
5. If you are logging on for the first time, the default Student Area Password is specified as follows:
(a) In most cases, it is the capitalized first letter of the student’s first name followed by the student’s last name (with the first letter capitalized). For example, my password would be MBlackman.
(b) If your last name has only two letters, it is the students’s first name and last name, with the first letter of each capitalized: FirstLast
(c) If your password using method (a) is JKim, EMarlow, or AWang, then your password is the student’s first name and last name, with the first letter of each capitalized as in method (b).
You will be prompted to set a new password for account security. Save this password so you remember it for next time.
6. Click on the “Update Info” icon. Verify the following information for the student. Please add it if it does not exist.
(a) Student First and Last Name
(b) Student Phone
(c) Student Email Address
(d) Student T-Shirt Size: Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large, or Adult XL
7. Click on parent/guardian name at the bottom left. Verify the following information for the parent/guardian. Please add it if it does not exist.
(a) First and Last Name
(b) Phone
(c) Email
(d) Relation to Student
8. Click on Add New Adult to add information for any other adult who wishes to receive band communications.
9. When finished be sure to click the green Update button at the top right of the page!
10. If you have two students, please log in and complete for both students. After you finish the second, click on the Home icon at the top left of the screen. From the home screen you can click on the “Multiple Students” icon to link their accounts.
11. Click on the red “Exit Charms” button at the top left to log out.
5. Submit your measurements for uniform sizing. Please grab a tape measure and an assistant to do the measuring, and click the following link to provide critical information to the Band Booster uniform team:
If the student is not home this week, you can select the option to send measurements at a later date on the form.
6. Complete the Marching Band Google Form. Congratulations - you made it! Please, by July 11th, click the following link to finish this set of Marching Band tasks:
Please remember that I can not write a single page of drill until I have heard from everyone in the Marching Band. I need to start writing on July 12th.
Thank you very much for your cooperation. I know there is quite a bit to accomplish here, but getting it done now will make things MUCH easier later!
Musically,
Mr. Blackman
